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Take a few minutes to explore the Rangers Club at Yosemite National Park. Screenshots pulled from Yosemite Nature Notes.
Need a reason to become a National Park Service ranger? Some get to live in really cool accommodations, such as the Rangers Club at Yosemite National Park.
Of course, not every park offers such historically rich accommodations in such picturesque settings. But it's nice to dream, no?
The following video by Steven M. Bumgardner is the latest installment of Yosemite Nature Notes. Enjoy!
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Comments
I was fortunate enough to live in the Ranger Club during much of 1975 to 1985 during my seasonal and early permanent years working there as an interpreter. The video brought back many memories. I recall the RC had just been remodelled in 1978 or so which greatly improved the kitchen and bathrooms throughout the building. My favorite room of many to live in was #8. It is upstairs, the smallest of all the Club's rooms and sat right over the reading nook facing Sentinel Rock. I had my own "private deck" - I'd opent the window and climb out onto the flat roof of the downstairs nook. From there is an almost-unobstructed view across Cook's Meadow to Sentinel Rock with a huge, planted sequoia tree framing the east edge of the scene. Some winters afforded the opportunity to walk off the back deck and cross country ski across the meadow and beyond.
I fondly recall many winter evenings sitting in front of the large stone fireplace socializing with friends and fellow residents. I also recall a near-architectural disaster in the early 1890s. In an effort to improve energy efficiency, one morning the NPS Buildings and Grounds installed a wood stove insert into the fireplace. The unit was already mortared in place and setting up when two residents realized what was happening. They understood how the open fireplace design was integral to the integrity of the building. Within an hour or two the park curator was contacted, and someone from B&G was removing the partially-set mortar and the insert. I would think today the faint outline of mortar still rims the fireplace opening.
At the end it says "Yosemite Nature Notes - Episode 13." Where are the other episodes? Are they available for us to look at? Maybe on Youtube? Thanks.
Steve et al, while many of the Nature Notes have appeared on the Traveler and can be found under "Yosemite National Park" if you browse our archives by topic, you can find all the episodes at this site, Yosemite Nature Notes.
For what it's worth, I'd like to thank and encourage all who are contributing to the "I was there" stuff. Some wonderful stories.
I had the privilege of living in the Ranger’s Club from 1970-72. It was truly one of the most memorable experiences of my life. Unfortunately, I did not fully appreciate my good fortune at the time. In fact, the first spring I was somewhat annoyed that the roar from the Lower Yosemite Falls made it difficult fall asleep at night. The building itself was only part of the experience, however. A larger part was the fellow employees who lived and worked there. One such person was Bertha who was hired by NPS to keep the place in reasonable working order and to keep an eye on all the young and sometimes exuberant seasonals who lived there. She was a combination housekeeper and den mother. I soon learned that staying on Bertha’s good side was one of the unwritten rules of living in the RC. Bertha took a proprietary interest in every thing that went on under her roof. Early one morning she walked into Dorm A which was empty except for a visiting friend of mind who was still sound asleep. Bertha, not expecting any overnight guests, walked over to his bed, reached down and yanked the blanket and sheet off my startled friend and demanded to know who he was and why he was sleeping in her bed. My startled (terrified?) friend will always remember the Ranger’s Club also.
Admit it Dave, how we cleaned up after our fights so Bertha wouldn't get on our backs. Or when Maria and I put vegetables into Farrell and Henson's 'stew'. Uncle Fred was so cool, it was a family away from home in the RC, thanks to all of you that shared the experience with us!
A wonderful atmosphere and the Ranger's I met are great! Thanks Ray for all your help!
Hope to see you all next Summer.
Thanks for posting this. I was lucky enough to stay at the Rangers Club even though I was not a ranger there. My sister Debbie was, and I stayed up on the third floor, which was nothing but a big bank of beds, one after another. I cooked many a meal on the barbeque outside, including a steak. During that cookout. I noticed a housecat's glowing eyes emerge from the barn nearby. Since I love housecats, I called to it. "Here kitty, kitty, kitty," I called out. Slowly but surely, kitty made it's way over to me through the darkness, and started up the ramp leading to the kitchen. And when the first beam of light hit those glowing eyes, I realized that my "kitty" was a big, FAT, hungry racoon. Needless to say -- I hoofed it back inside and watched wide-eyed until it ambled off. I have many memories of the Rangers Club, but this 1977 memory stands out above all others. Thanks for the trip back in time.